Match Week 12 Recap

EPL Match Week 12 - CleanSheet Recap

In Today’s CleanSheet:

• Headlines 📌

• Current Situation📈📉

• Hot Topic 🔥🔥🔥- Stadium Cipher

• Off Island 🏝️ - International Break

• Best Bets 💰

Headlines 📌

• Best Result of Match Week 12. 4-4 Chelsea v City . 3 min of highlights (X). This match is what makes the PL the best league in the world. Top players in the world, both teams attacking, drama, physicality - and its only match week 12.

  • Chelsea Impact. Chelsea has now drew with the top 3 teams in the PL, all at home v Liverpool, Arsenal and City. All three matches were attacking, open matches. No doubt Chelsea has the talent, it’s just young and manager Pochettino is working to get the right pieces in place. This team has struggled against teams that pack it in, that may be a result of the youth and inexperience. Get in an open match, and the talent has more room to improvise. Chelsea seem to be heading in the right direction.

  • City Impact. City sit top of the table heading into another international break. They’ve been without Kevin De Bruyne and have been moving their line up around a lot, not really firing on all cylinders. What seems clear is Pep understands this is a marathon, they don't need to be great right now. Teams like Newcastle and BHA are already starting to look tired and there are still questions on Arsenal and Liverpool's depth. Tottenham has lost two players to injury recently and lost both matches. City just continues to build.

  • Haaland - first goal with the jewels? (20s X)

• Expectations. 7 wins, 6th in the Table, 5 points out of 4th. Most teams would be happy with that, looking to where their gaps are and planning on how to get in the top 4. When that team is Man United, the narrative is nothing but questioning negativity. They aren’t winning by enough. The team has no personality. etc etc. It’s true, they’ve been unimpressive, and critics would say the team does not yet have an identity, a style of play that fits the players. It also doesn’t help that they are struggling in the Champions League. On the other hand, they have not figured things out yet, are battling and finding ways to win and sit in striking distance and have the finances to figure it out. Will be up to ten Hag to do it.

• Tired Legs. Several teams are looking tired after a fast start. BHA looked like the fastest team in the league to start the season starting with 4 wins in 5 and scoring 15 goals. Since a 1-6 loss at Villa, BHA have drawn 5 of 8 matches, lost to City and beat Ajax twice in the Europa League. A 1-1 draw at home to Sheffield United is a clear sign of that. They look tired. Same goes for Newcastle. They play at such a high pace, and when things are clicking and they are fresh, they dominate. When they tire, they seem to really tire. A top of table, CL team, should not get shut out at Bournemouth but the Magpies did 0-2 this weekend. Both these teams welcome this break.

• Long Climb. Bournemouth has 2 wins in their last 3 matches, 2 on the season. Luton Town have 2 points in their last 4 but seem to be in games with 9 of their last 10 being 1 goal matches. Sheffield United have 4 points in their last 2 matches, they have 5 points on the season. Burnley have lost 5 in a row and have 4 points.

• The Royal Dyche. Sean Dyche was at Burnley for close to 10 years and is loved by the fans. Enough to have a Pub named after him, The Royal Dyche. Check out their website. Originally known as The Princess Royal the pub was renamed when Sean Dyche secured European Soccer for the first time in over 50 years for the club. Dyche seemed to have figured things out for Everton this year. Can they avoid the relegation race.

  

  Sean Dyche - Manager Everton

• Depth. Tottenham lost two of their key players, James Maddison and Micky van de Ven during the Chelsea match, and now have lost 2 in a row without them. The question for Spurs was going to be depth. If you told them they would be sitting 4^th in the table after 12 weeks I'm sure they would've taken it, but 2 losses in a row have knocked them off the top.

• Extra Time Magic. 2 goals in extra time and 3 points for Wolves. Great video and sound from the front row. (2min X)

• Biggest Disappointment. Newcastle. Yes they lost on the road. Yes they’ve had some great wins in dominating fashion. But, in the last 5 matches they have 3 losses and a draw against teams they would expect to beat.

• 40 Points. Many people think the magic number to guarantee staying up is 40 points. We are now just over 30% of the way through the season, looking at the table below, several teams have work to do.

• Chino. Definition - “A loose cotton trouser, usually a light brown color”. In the Championship, Leeds hosted Argyle and proceeded to troll the traveling fans. Well done! (90s X)👖

Current Situation 📈📉

Clean Sheets Counter

How not to keep a Clean Sheet. (20s X)

Hot Topic 🔥🔥🔥

You will often hear announcers say something like “We are live at the King Power where Leicester City take on Leeds United.” The King Power is the name of Leicester City’s stadium. Many clubs have named sponsored stadiums, others are not directly sponsored and stick with the historical name. If you’ve been a long-time follower of the PL, you can probably name all 20 stadiums without a list. But, for CS followers, we will give you the names and let you see how many you know. Respond to the poll with your results! AND - if you’re interested in the history of the stadiums, check out the CleanSheet Season preview’s of all 20 PL teams. Here is the first one to get you started.

See Bottom of this post for Answers.

Off Island 🏝️

International Break. Match Week 13 returns Saturday, November 25^th.

• South America, Africa and Asia have FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

• Europe has Euro qualifiers and friendlies.

• The USMNT and CONCACAF are in the Quarterfinals of the Nations League Tournament.

• The USMNT host Trinidad and Tobago at Q2 Stadium in Austin, Texas on 11/16 and depending on their result will play a semifinal match.

Best Bets 💰

CS GuestPicker

Another winning week for CS Guest Picker!

Overall GP Standings ($)

ANSWER KEY

1. Man City - K (Etihad Stadium)

2. Liverpool - E (Anfield)

3. Arsenal - J (Emirates)

4. Tottenham - M (Hotspur Stadium)

5. Aston Villa - R (Villa Park) Gimme

6. Man United - O (Old Trafford)

7. Newcastle - N (St James’ Park)

8. BHA - D (Amex Stadium)

9. West Ham - P (London Stadium)

10. Chelsea - T (Stamford Bridge)

11. Brentford - G (Community Stadium)

12. Wolves - S (Mollineaux)

13. Palace - B (Selhurst Park)

14. Everton - L (Goodison Park)

15. Forest - H (City Ground)

16. Fulham - I (Craven Cottage)

17. Bournemouth - A (Vitality Stadium)

18. Luton Town - Q (Kenilworth Road)

19. Sheffield United - F (Bramall Lane)

20. Burnley - C (Turf Moor)